2020–21 SDHL season

The 2020–21 SDHL season is the 14th season of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (Swedish: Svenska damhockeyligan (SDHL)). The season began on 12 September 2020 and the ten teams will compete in a 36-game regular season ending in February 2021. The season marks the return to play for the SDHL after the 2019–20 season championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden.

2020-21 SDHL season
League Swedish Women's Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration
  • Regular season
  • 12 September 2020 – 19 February 2021
  • Playoffs
  • February – March 2021
Number of games36
Number of teams10
Regular season
Playoffs

League Business

Background

Both Modo Hockey and Göteborg HC had survived relegation in 2019–20 SDHL season, having defeated the Skellefteå AIK and the Malmö Redhawks of the Damettan in the 2020 promotion to the SDHL playoffs. HV71 had finished at the top of the league table during the 2019–20 regular season, and were due to face-off against Luleå HF/MSSK in the playoff championships before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

Partnerships

During the 2020 summer off-season, the league announced the extension of the sponsorship with DHL, the league's main sponsor.[2] In October 2020, the league launches an online merchandise store in collaboration with DHL. Spendrups brewery Norrlands Guld extended their sponsorship rights over the SDHL Goal of the Week, voted for by the public.[3] In August, the league announced an expansion of its partnership with the men's Swedish Hockey League (SHL) through 2024, with an increase in investment of several million kronor.[4]

Collective bargaining

In September, the players' association, SICO, announced the league's first-ever collective bargaining agreement between the players, the league and the Swedish national team, providing injury insurance for both league and international games along with aid for education and job-finding post-retirement.[5] The agreement enters into force on the 1st of October 2020.[6]

Media Rights

C More Entertainment acquired the broadcasting rights for the season's games, with 20 regular season games and 10 playoff games (including the championship finals) to be broadcast live by the national broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT).[7] The C More broadcasting team will include former Olympic silver medal winner Pernilla Winberg, along with former NHLer Staffan Kronwall, and journalist Kajsa Kalméus.[8]

COVID-19 impact

The COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden has had a significant impact on league operations. The country's approach is guided by the Public Health Agency of Sweden (Swedish: Folkhälsomyndigheten), although the health boards of every individual region (Swedish: län) have a degree of autonomy in being able to impose additional regional measures, which many began doing in late October and early November as the second wave of the pandemic worsened.[9]

Before the start of the season, along with the men's SHL and HockeyAllsvenskan, the SDHL presented a plan to allow a limited audience for games. The league will implement personalised tickets as well as blocking off rows of seats to ensuring physical distancing, and fan associations will not be allowed to organise trips to away games.[10][11] Several clubs, including HV71 and Djurgården, opted to keep matches closed to the public, whether others opted to go ahead and sellup to 50 tickets.[12] The Swedish Ice Hockey Association further set guidelines that a minimum of five players should be suspected of infection with COVID-19 before a match can be suspended.[13]

In October, the Swedish government announced plans to allow up to 500 spectators to attend sporting events, but soon backed down from the plan due to increasing case numbers in the country.[14] Later that month, the SDHL announced a partnership with Dynamic Code to improve testing for players and personnel.[15]

On the 15th of November, a match between Linköping HC and Djurgårdens IF was cancelled after two Djurgården players tested positive for COVID-19 and a further two players showed symptoms. It marked the first confirmed cases in the league for the season.[16] On the 16th of November, the Swedish government announced new pandemic restrictions, limiting the number of people allowed at public events to eight.[17] On the 17th of November, Luleå HF announced that they would close their arena to the public beginning on the 22nd of December.[18] On the 20th of November, the Swedish government announced a 195 million kronor financial support package for ice hockey in Sweden, of which 3,1 million kr was assigned to the SDHL.[19]

Impact on player salaries

Because the average SDHL salary is 5,500kr per month (compared to 121,000kr for the SHL), many SDHL players have second jobs outside of hockey and have been affected by cutbacks in the COVID-19 recession.[20]

After the 2020 IIHF Women's World Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several Finnish national team players who had to seek a second-job since they did not receive the usual stipend for playing in the World Championships.[21]

Format

Each team plays 36 games, with three points being awarded for winning in regulation time, two points for winning in overtime or shootout, one point for losing in overtime or shootout, and zero points for losing in regulation time. At the end of the regular season, the team that finishes with the most points is crowned the regular season champion, and the top eight teams proceed to a playoff tournament. The two bottom-ranked teams proceed to a relegation tournament against the top two teams from the Damettan. The top two teams from the tournament qualify for the SDHL and the bottom two teams play in the Damettan in the next season, meaning that it is possible for one or both of the SDHL teams to be relegated and one or both of the Damettan teams to be promoted.

Teams
Team City Arena Capacity
AIK Solna Ulriksdals Ishall
Brynäs IF Gävle Monitor ERP Arena 7,909
Djurgårdens IF Stockholm Hovet 8,094
Göteborg HC Gothenburg Angered arena
HV71 Jönköping Kinnarps Arena 7,000
Leksands IF Leksand Tegera Arena 7,650
Linköping HC Linköping Stångebro Ishall 8,500
Luleå HF/MSSK Luleå Coop Norrbotten Arena 6,300
Modo Hockey Örnsköldsvik Fjällräven Center 7,600
SDE Hockey Danderyd Enebybergs Ishall

Significant Events

Pre-season

September 2020
  • Linköping HC beat AIK 3-2 in the first match of the season; Luleå HF/MSSK beat HV71 4-0 in first rematch of the cancelled 2019-20 playoff finals; Modo Hockey forward Marion Allemoz scores first hat-trick of the season in 5-1 victory against Göteborg HC; SDE Hockey goaltender Lindsey Post posts 52-save shutout against Djurgårdens IF; newly appointed Swedish Ice Hockey Association general-secretary Johan Stark called for the men's and women's national teams to receive equal conditions;[24] Brynäs IF forward Anna Meixner earns the Goal of Week award[25]
  • HV71 forward Danielle Stone posts 5-point game against Göteborg HC; the first collective bargaining agreement between the players and the league is announced;[6] SDE forward Kayleigh Hamers earns the Goal of the Week award[26]
  • Brynäs IF defeats Luleå 7-4 to become the sole remaining undefeated team on the season; 19-year old Göteborg goaltender Frida Axell posts 51 save game as Göteborg earn their first point of the season; Ulf Lundberg is announced as new head coach of the Swedish national team[27]

October 2020
  • The Swedish government announces its intention to relax COVID-19 restrictions, allowing up to 500 spectators for sporting events starting from the 15th of October, but ultimately cancels the relaxations due to a rise in cases
  • Göteborg head coach Stefanie McKeough is forced to leave the club and return to Canada due to visa issues;[28] the SDHL launches its webshop[29]
  • Emma Nordin is awarded the prize of Assist of the Month for September;[30]
  • Linköping pauses club activities after 24 people connected the men's team test positive for COVID-19[31]

November 2020
  • A brawl erupted in the last minutes of a Modo victory over Leksands, with a total of 176 penalty minutes being assessed, including 5 fighting majors;[32][33]
  • Several Finnish national team players are forced to miss several games while being quarantined under Finnish law after a player tested positive at a national team camp;[34] the SDHL announces plans to make it so that at least one out of every four players can be able to play full-time within five years;[35] HV71 goaltender Anna Amholt speaks out publicly about being hospitalized again with Long Covid[36]
  • The Swedish government announces a pandemic financial support package for hockey leagues in Sweden

December 2020
  • Lara Stalder picks up seven points in an 8-2 Brynäs victory over SDE[37]
  • Jaycee Magwood scores in overtime to lead Modo to victory and completing a three-goal comeback from 4-1 down against Brynäs[38]
  • The day after Christmas, Göteborg pick up their first win of the season, beating Leksands 3-1[39]

January 2021
  • AIK captain Sabina Küller is suspended for four matches following a hit to hit penalty against Luleå[40]
  • After having retired at the end of the previous season, former Swedish national team captain Emilia Ramboldt makes a comeback with Linköping[41]
  • A 13th of January match between Modo and SDE is cancelled due to a massive snowstorm in northern Sweden[42]

Standings

Regular season
Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Luleå HF/MSSK 17 14 0 1 2 72 31 +41 43 Qualification to Quarter-finals
2 Brynäs IF 17 14 0 0 3 80 41 +39 42
3 HV71 16 9 2 1 4 62 29 +33 32
4 Linköping HC 15 9 2 0 4 41 24 +17 31
5 Djurgårdens IF 16 8 1 0 7 35 33 +2 26
6 Modo Hockey 17 7 1 0 9 37 37 0 23
7 SDE Hockey 17 6 2 1 8 38 42 −4 23
8 AIK IF 17 4 0 4 9 33 57 −24 16
9 Leksands IF 17 2 2 1 12 29 66 −37 11 Qualification to Relegation Playoffs
10 Göteborg HC 17 0 0 2 15 19 86 −67 2
Source: SDHL.se
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

SDHL awards

SDHL goal of the week

See also

References
  1. Jay, Michelle (10 September 2020). "2020-21 SDHL Preview". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  2. "Huvudsponsorn DHL förlänger avtalet". SDHL.se (in Swedish). 12 May 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  3. "Norrlands Guld förlänger som officiell sponsor". SDHL.se (in Swedish). 11 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  4. Murphy, Mike (1 August 2020). "SDHL extends agreement with SHL through 2024". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  5. Umicevic, Dusan (11 September 2020). "Avslöjar: Svensk damishockey skriver historiskt avtal". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  6. Karlsson, Mattias (16 September 2020). "Historiskt avtal i svensk damhockey". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  7. Jay, Michelle (7 September 2020). "How to watch the SDHL 2020-21 season". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  8. Karlsson, Mattias (7 September 2020). "SDHL-stjärnan blir ny expert hos C More". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  9. "Coronavirus MAP: Sweden's local recommendations where you live". The Local. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  10. Roslund, Emil Eiman (18 August 2020). "Här är planen för publik i svensk hockey". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  11. "SDHL kommenterar dagens besked kring publikfrågan". SDHL.se (in Swedish). 21 August 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  12. Karlsson, Måns (12 September 2020). "ENKÄT: Så löser SDHL-klubbarna publikfrågan". HockeySverige (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  13. "Beskedet: Så blir hockeyns coronariktlinjer". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 12 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  14. Karlsson, Måns (18 October 2020). "Bakslaget: Inget nytt besked i publikfrågan". HockeySverige (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  15. "SDHL i samarbete med Dynamic Code för testning av Covid-19". SDHL.se (in Swedish). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  16. https://www.sdhl.se/artikel/3vq8akgvy-5nfcdd/sondagens-match-mellan-linkoping-och-djurgarden-skjuts-fram
  17. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-16/sweden-imposes-unprecedented-covid-restrictions-as-cases-soar
  18. https://hockeysverige.se/2020/11/17/beskedet-stanger-arenan-helt
  19. https://www.svt.se/sport/ishockey/shl-far-mest-pengar-i-hockeyforbundets-fordelning
  20. Johansson, Adam (4 September 2020). "Krisen: 117 spelare har blivit arbetslösa". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  21. Norberg, Simon (10 March 2020). "Stjärnan tvingas söka sommarjobb på grund av coronaviruset". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  22. Jay, Michelle (13 July 2020). "Sofia Reideborn leaves SDE after controversial podcast". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  23. Kågström, Rasmus (10 September 2020). "Vill begränsa antalet utländska spelare i SDHL". HockeySverige (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  24. Umicevic, Dusan; Bylund, Theo (12 September 2020). "Hockeyns nye Starke man: "Förbundet måste känna ett ansvar för damerna"". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  25. "Vinnare av Veckans mål vecka 37: Anna Meixner". SDHL.se (in Swedish). 21 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  26. "Vinnare av Veckans mål vecka 38: Kayleigh Hamers". SDHL.se (in Swedish). 28 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  27. Bylund, Theo (26 September 2020). "Nya förbundskaptenen: "Klubbarna måste anstränga sig för att välja svenskor"". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  28. Söderlund, Robin (13 October 2020). "Ordföranden: "Hon mår jävligt dåligt"". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  29. "DHL skapar unik webbshop – Samtliga intäkter går oavkortat till flick- och tjejhockeyn". SDHL.se (in Swedish). 14 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  30. "Vinnaren av Månadens leverans - September: Emma Nordin". SDHL.se (in Swedish). 22 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  31. Nyberg, Hannes; Söderlund, Robin (26 October 2020). "Linköping HC pausar sin verksamhet". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  32. Djupenström, Hilda (1 November 2020). "Jättebråk efter Leksand–Modo – sex matchstraff utdelade". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  33. Murphy, Mike (4 November 2020). "Dam Good: Bad blood boils over between MODO and Leksand". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  34. Snickars, Joel (9 November 2020). "Luleåspelare fast i Finland – missar två matcher". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  35. Andersson, Jonna (12 November 2020). "Var fjärde spelare i SDHL ska vara proffs om fem år". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  36. Johansson, Anton (13 November 2020). "Sjuk i över 200 dagar – nu läggs hon in på sjukhus". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  37. https://www.theicegarden.com/2020/12/7/22157745/dam-good-lara-stalder-brynas-explodes-for-7-points-against-sde-sdhl-womens-hockey
  38. Sjöstrand, Simon (11 December 2020). "Modo skrällde efter rysare – Brynäs tappade 1-4". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  39. https://hockeysverige.se/2020/12/26/forsta-segern-for-sasongen-for-goteborg-hc
  40. https://hockeysverige.se/2021/01/02/efter-huvudtacklingen-aik-kaptenen-far-lang-avstangning
  41. https://hockeysverige.se/2021/01/13/emilila-ramboldt-comeback-linkoping-hc
  42. Grefve, Daniel (13 January 2021). "SDHL-matchen Modo–SDE skjuts upp – taket på hallarna riskerar att rasa in". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Retrieved 14 January 2021.
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